Comments on: Sandman and American Gods: Problematic Portrayals – Part One

By: Anachronosmos

Anachronosmos — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:54:00 +0000

I think that a theme which you may not have picked up on, is that gods seem to be depicted derivatives of humanity. This is explains why there are multiple incarnations of the same deities that differ from place to place. This also clarifies the nature of the culture-heroes, who appear to be real people who gained a kind of minor divinity through story and song.

This idea may be most clearly indicated with Hinzelmann (if memory serves) who was a human made into a god through a ritual of human sacrifice.

I think that Gaiman is doing something similar to Pratchett’s Discworld. Discworld really exists… albeit in a narrative universe. Discworld exists in the sense that Pratchett has written it, and we’re reading it, and that’s its universe.

So, for Gaiman, all of the deities exist, but within human consciousness, and that makes them multifaceted by necessity, because their existence depends on the fact that they are held in mind by individual humans.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:22:26 +0000

As far as I know, any evidence that the Vikings had actually been to the United States is inconclusive. There’s the Kensington rune stone, but most academics think that’s a hoax. Since the book is dealing with United States-America and not North America-America (as near as I can figure out, anyways), the point still stands.

By: Anansi

Anansi — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:17:46 +0000

Interesting points, however Vikings did travel to Continental America, hundreds of years before Columbus. The Irish may have even been there before them and the Chinese went there at some point befor columbus. just read some bill bryson, and that book 1421:The year china discovered america.

By: Sandman and American Gods: Problematic Portrayals – Part Two : Wicked Whimsy

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:15:30 +0000

[...] is part three of the Sandman and American Gods series. The intro is here and part one is here. This is part two, which discusses the theme of “poor old pagan gods, nobody worships them [...]

By: Mitzy

Mitzy — Sat, 29 May 2010 01:53:29 +0000

Interesting points you have raised, here. Following with great interest.

By: Produce

Produce — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:36:46 +0000

I love you for this post!

By: Find all online stock quote systems for Hong Kong stock market? | Cosmetology and Beauty Careers

Wed, 26 May 2010 21:17:55 +0000

[...] Sandman and American Gods: Problematic Portrayals – Part One … [...]